Radio Islam’s Ban on ‘ka hijab’ Nasheed Irks Muslim Youth

Muslim youth in Malawi have described the ban by Radio Islam imposed on a latest nasheed Ka hijab on its airwaves as unfortunate.

The nasheed became the hit only after enjoying airplay for few days and seemingly, most of the radio’s presenters who are youth fell in love with the piece which was done by Ismail Ntenje, one of the upcoming Muslim artists in the central eastern state.

The youth expressed their frustration through social networking site Facebook.

The nasheed depicts a Muslim youth who has reached a stage of marrying, saying he wants to marry a Muslim girl.

Ndikufuna ka hijab, kamkazi kopezetsa thawab, kakasowa ine tabu ( I want to marry a Muslim girl so that I should be gaining rewards from Allah, failure of which is a problem), so goes part of the nasheed’s lyrics.

“…the ban on other songs is understandable but on this one, I will protest,” Grey ibn Saizi wrote.

Another Muslim youth identified as Ireen Mdala also wrote, “What is wrong with the style hip hop? Mayazi [no ways], this is a new generation.”

Mc Carthy Samalani also commented by writing, “This is nothing but banning creativity saying the nasheed was ably done and its message is so touching…”

Wizzy bwanado said he was surprised because the nasheed only encourages Muslim women to be putting on hijjab. He added that he would assist in the distribution of the nasheed.

“Wayambitsa ndani akufuna tiziyimba za kamini? [Who has brought that decision? Or do they want us to sing about haraam things?” Issah Zuze asked furiously.

However, speaking in an interview with Malawi Muslims website Radio Islam program controller Sheikh Zaid Abdul-Rasheed Aboo Mohammad justified the ban saying some of the words used in the nasheed are not in accordance with Islamic teachings.

“It is true that we have really banned the nasheed because of its contents and the rap genre which the artist used. The song include some things like kuika Ndolo pa mphuno, [putting ring on the nose], which is not acceptable in Islam. So, as a religious station, we had to stick to our values, we didn’t want to promote such things,” he said.

The Sheikh therefore, asked all Muslim artists to involve the Muslim scholars when writing their songs to avoid the repetition of such nature in future.

On his reaction Ismael Ntenje said the news “did not come as a surprise considering the degree of sensitivity with which th station is run.. I hear the rap part is what didn’t go well with the officials that said… But I want a real islamic justification for the GENRE I used.”

Ntenje therefore, said “the newz pierced a spear of discouragement and demotivation in all in my artistic heart…I was like, “Did they dare to unscrew every part of the song and get it critically analysed?’

However, on his remarks Sheikh Dinala Chabulika of Islamic Information Bureau said the Genre is not forbidden but as Muslims, the artists have to stick to their tune.

“You know, at the beginning the song is good. But the problem is that he didn’t use the Genre like his other friends because as Muslims, we have to stick to our values. It is indeed bad for that nasheed to be played on Radio Islam. What will happen if somebody tune in to the radio and find at the middle part of that song where there is a rap genre, what impression will people have? Would they say that it is Islamic radio or what? The rap section shows some childish,” he said.